A Letter To A Loved One


About a month ago, my aunt passed away from her cancer that had returned. It was a season of trial and hardship for all of us as we sought to take care of her as her health declined. I spent much time during this season thinking about how we as Christians are to look at death when we aren't the ones facing it but are the ones watching and left behind; how to mourn and grieve the loss of a loved one. 

I wanted to share a letter I wrote to my aunt as a word of encouragement and assurance of the hope we have in Christ. 

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What is our only hope and comfort in life and death? 


“That I am not my own, but belong - body and soul, in life and in death, to my faithful Saviour, Jesus Christ.

He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from the tyranny of the devil. he also watches over me in such a way that not a hair can fall from my head without the will of my Father in heaven; in fact, all things must work together for my salvation.

Because I belong to him, Christ, by his Holy Spirit, assures of me of eternal life and makes me wholeheartedly willing and ready from now on to live for him.”

How clearly written is this good news of Jesus Christ! For us, who are in Him, we are called God’s own chosen people because Christ has paid the penalty which we deserve - not only do we receive eternal life and the forgiveness of our sins, but we are also pronounced righteous in his sight, and the Holy Spirit guards, protects, sanctifies, and grows us into the likeness of Christ. Christ is our ONLY hope and comfort in life AND in death. 

I’m sure I am not even aware of how challenging these few weeks and months have been for you as we all continue to process the reality that is your cancer. I have found myself wondering how this season will play out, but like the answer in the catechism states, not a hair can fall from our heads without it being the will of God. God has ordained each and every one of our days (Psalm 139:16).

The reality, is that life on this side of heaven is short and time is running out, but the hope, is that life after death is eternal, forever and everlasting.  

That being said, I praise God and am so thankful to have heard the incredible peace God has given you as you finish the final leg of this race you are running. During the end of my school year, I reminded my students of the future glorification that is to come, the eternal and steadfast hope we as Christians have because of Jesus Christ, the hope beyond the COVID crisis, beyond vaccinations, the hope beyond pain, sickness, suffering and cancer and that we do not need to have any fear of death for to live is Christ and to die is to gain (Philippians 1:21)! Eternity with God will be infinitely better and more glorious than this world and life can ever offer. The weakness, the suffering, and the frailty you are feeling now will be redeemed and you will receive a resurrected body! Praise God! Therefore, do not lose heart! 

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 - Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen in temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 

There may be times where we do not understand his will or his plan, or even feel anger towards the suffering and sadness we are going through but we must be reminded that God is good and He is ONLY good. His thoughts are higher than our thoughts, and his ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). He works all things together for our good (Romans 8:28). We do not need to worry about our lives, what we will eat or what we will drink; nor for our bodies as to what we will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns and yet your heavenly father feeds them, Are you not worth much more than they? (Matthew 6:25-26). Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39). Trust and lean deep into God’s goodness and rest in His sovereignty. As we do that, look ahead!

Revelation 21:1-5 - Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death' or mourning or crying or pain, for the old oder of things has passed away." He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."

As for us who are still here, future glory awaits, not just for you, but for all of us! This current season has been and hard and there may be difficult days ahead. We will grieve and mourn all the while knowing that our God is a loving and gracious Father - He knows our every thought, he sees each tear that falls and he hears us when we call to Him. I’ve been thinking of what future dinners and family gatherings will be like without you, but I am reminded and encouraged because this is not goodbye. We, who stand in the finished work of Jesus Christ know with assurance that we will one day also join you and our heavenly Father in heaven. We will one day dwell with God where there will be no more tears or death or mourning or suffering. We will one day eat together again and the feast will be glorious. Therefore let us turn our eyes upon Jesus for he will sustain us and hold us fast until that day. 

You are loved,
Jason 

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If you are reading this and you do not have this assurance of salvation and eternal life with our precious Saviour Jesus Christ, I am inviting you to place your faith in Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins so that you can know with us that after death, there is victory, life and glory in Christ. 

This life is just a vapour,
We're almost home.
That sun is setting yonder, 
We're almost home
Take courage, for this darkness shall break to dawn!
O lift your eyes, we're almost home.

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